Searching for pot of gold

The proposed Rainbow Cup would pit South Africas stars against the Celtic nations in a venture that is large in vision, but small in detail. By Lewis Stuart

THE Rainbow Cup. A pot of gold; or just plain potty? Five nations, two hemispheres, one tournament. Is it a vision whose time has come or yet another Celtic kite doomed to crash? Amid the euphoria, we have to be realistic.

The proposal is to involve professional clubs from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Italy and South Africa in a 24-team, seven-week competition in September and October. Four pools of six, five games each and the four group winners enter a knockout phase to claim the cup. The idea was launched last week and portrayed as a done deal. True, all five governing bodies have signed a heads of agreement form, contracting them to take part, but there are get-out clauses. It could even crash next week, depending on events in South Africa.

The idea has been greeted enthusiastically in Scotland, and no wonder. For all that the Celtic League has going